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Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:13 am
by Euclidthegreek
I know I number of you here are Vonnegut fans. I've never read any of his work, and though I should sometime. Where should I start? Recommendations?

Re: Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:16 am
by smiley_cow
I haven't read much, but I really enjoyed Deadeye Dick.

Re: Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:19 am
by Edminster
Cat's Cradle and Slaughterhouse 5 are generally the places most people are introduced to his stuff, and The Sirens of Titan is also pretty decent.

Re: Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:22 am
by sotic
The only Vonnegut book that I've read is Slaughterhouse Five. It's an excellent book, and makes me want to read more Vonnegut.

Re: Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:33 am
by Lethal Interjection
Edminster wrote:Cat's Cradle and Slaughterhouse 5 are generally the places most people are introduced to his stuff, and The Sirens of Titan is also pretty decent.
Having read these 3 only, I would recommend any of them. Cat's Cradle is pretty fantastic. Slaugherhouse 5 was very good. Sirens of Titan has grown on me since reading it, but it definitely falls below the other two.

Re: Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:42 am
by Edminster
I guess I'm just partial to the quote "I was a victim of a series of accidents, as are we all" (spoiled 'cuz Euclid ain't read it yet)

Re: Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 6:31 pm
by gavin
Interestingly enough, Slaughterhouse-5 is still being banned in schools

http://io9.com/5828986/school-bans-vonn ... s-for-free (note, this article is from today, not years ago! Perhaps this is why you brought it up.)

So make sure you don't miss that one! Any book that makes the ban-list is pretty much a must-read.

Re: Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:41 pm
by DonRetrasado
I heard that Mein Kampf was actually a pretty lousy book. Although I'm totally against banning books whatsoever.

Re: Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 1:10 pm
by gavin
DonRetrasado wrote:I heard that Mein Kampf was actually a pretty lousy book. Although I'm totally against banning books whatsoever.
You have to read a banned book on principle.

Re: Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:11 am
by Kimra
gavin wrote:
DonRetrasado wrote:I heard that Mein Kampf was actually a pretty lousy book. Although I'm totally against banning books whatsoever.
You have to read a banned book on principle.
Who's banned list though?

By this standard you have to read the DaVinci Code.

Re: Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 5:49 pm
by gavin
Kimra wrote:
gavin wrote:
DonRetrasado wrote:I heard that Mein Kampf was actually a pretty lousy book. Although I'm totally against banning books whatsoever.
You have to read a banned book on principle.
Who's banned list though?

By this standard you have to read the DaVinci Code.
Go with the aggregate then.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mo ... ted_States

I'm using the US list because it really only applies to the culture you're in. This is namely because reading books that are contra-local culture may help expand your understanding of the world.

Re: Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 12:18 am
by zomgmouse
Slaughterhouse-Five is probably the best place to start, because it's the shortest, yet sums up his style and beliefs very neatly. Personally, I didn't like Cat's Cradle as much, but it's still worth reading. Maybe try Mother Night or Breakfast of Champions as well - although I have read many more of his books, so I could recommend any of them. Essentially, just read as many of them as you can.

Re: Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 3:31 am
by Kimra
You better get to reading the goosebumps series quick smart.

Re: Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 4:21 am
by GUTCHUCKER
Reader beware, you choose the scare.

Re: Vonnegut Recommendations?

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 7:02 am
by zomgmouse
I read plenty of those when I was littlerer.